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Sorry to take this a bit off-topic, I read somewhere that someone sent his NUC to SOtM for modding a word clock connector on the NUC along with his sms-200ultra that too was modded for a word clock connector. He then compiled his setup as per the diagram for a "no holds barred" SQ. 

Is such a thing possible ?


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(06-Nov-2017, 15:23)audio_engr Wrote: [ -> ]Sorry to take this a bit off-topic, I read somewhere that someone sent his NUC to SOtM for modding a word clock connector on the NUC along with his sms-200ultra that too was modded for a word clock connector. He then compiled his setup as per the diagram for a "no holds barred" SQ. 

Is such a thing possible ?


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It is arguably on-topic, if only to demonstrate just how complicated some folk will make things rather than buy something simple like an Innuos streamer. Huh

Is such a thing possible?  Yes, there a number of people that have come up with many variations on this theme over on Computer Audiophile and they typically report good results.  What are the variations?  Things like using an Ethernet connected PC via a clock tap modified network switch, multiple clock fed devices, such as the switch, then sMS-200Ultra, then tX-USBUltra, or clock taps to computer motherboards.  One point to note re the diagram above, these are not 'Word Clock' connections, but 10MHz reference signals.  This is all based around SOtM's sCLK-EX board, which has a decent clock itself and can distribute four reference clocks, and can itself be fed by something like Mutec's REF10.  The sCLK-EX board is in all SOtM's 'Ultra' products, and is what makes them 'Ultra'.

Looking at the specifications, it currently looks like the Mutec REF10 is just about the best thing out there in terms of a high performace audio clock.  Add it to the Mutec MC3+USB, and good things happen.  Also add it to the sMS-200Ultra and tX-USBUltra, then even better things happen.  This is all a little controversial, because some folk that know much about audio clocks claim that the clocks need to be directly connected right next to whatever it is they are clocking, and that the clock signal gets 'messed up' a little or will pick up interference over even very short cable runs.  Thus use of clock chains and Mutec REF10's is technically a bad idea.  I think just about every subjective report I have read regarding the use of the REF10 with the MC3+USB and other devices have been very positive.  Based on user feedback, it does appear to work well.  The truth is out there.....

Currently CA's John Swenson (Uptone Audio designer) claims that he has come up with a lab test rig to test some of these 'clock chain' theories.  No results have been published to date.

Back in the (almost) real world of Devialet users, Swissbear has just about the nearest to the above set up, although he is not using a 'clocked NUC'.

https://devialetchat.com/showthread.php?...1#pid65561

All good fun, but it does make the Innous look like a very simple solution does it not? Although for the record, I really want to try the Mutec REF10 myself, it currently ranks number 2 on my things to try list.
(06-Nov-2017, 18:47)Confused Wrote: [ -> ]It is arguably on-topic, if only to demonstrate just how complicated some folk will make things rather than buy something simple like an Innuos streamer. Huh

Yeah and it gets even more complicated when you add linear PSUs for each of those device...

That's why something like Innuos Zenith seems so great.
(06-Nov-2017, 18:47)Confused Wrote: [ -> ]It is arguably on-topic, if only to demonstrate just how complicated some folk will make things rather than buy something simple like an Innuos streamer. Huh

Brilliant post that illuminates in great detail to us newbies the complexities of computer audio as a source ... 

Indeed - the Innuos streamer does seem the ideal fit presently (but will require further investigations ... ) as it too isn't cheap.
I like the Triple PSU of the Innuos ZENith SE (Special Edition) ... done by Sean Jacobs using all the goodies like Mundorf & Nichicon KG caps, etc (that's incidentally exact of my choices for my DIY work) .. BUT its mighty £££ !!   Sad
(06-Nov-2017, 22:40)audio_engr Wrote: [ -> ]I like the Triple PSU of the Innuos ZENith SE (Special Edition) ... done by Sean Jacobs using all the goodies like Mundorf & Nichicon KG caps, etc (that's incidentally exact of my choices for my DIY work) .. BUT its mighty £££ !!   Sad

And what do you think of the SE? (I'm looking at the standard Zenith with 1 or 2 Tb SSD)
(07-Nov-2017, 00:10)Celts88 Wrote: [ -> ]And what do you think of the SE? (I'm looking at the standard Zenith with 1 or 2 Tb SSD)

From your sig, I see that you've already got the Antipodes DS. It would be interesting to note as to why you're considering the Zenith Std. 

Innuos promises in their SE ver that they further improve over their Std ver thru some additional goodies ... guess we need to investigate more on the Std & SE to ascertain Innuos's promises ...
(07-Nov-2017, 08:42)audio_engr Wrote: [ -> ]
(07-Nov-2017, 00:10)Celts88 Wrote: [ -> ]And what do you think of the SE? (I'm looking at the standard Zenith with 1 or 2 Tb SSD)

From your sig, I see that you've already got the Antipodes DS. It would be interesting to note as to why you're considering the Zenith Std. 

Innuos promises in their SE ver that they further improve over their Std ver thru some additional goodies ... guess we need to investigate more on the Std & SE to ascertain Innuos's promises ...

My Antipodes DS is the base model with 4Tb HHD and is just managing (and no more) to run Roon and the HAF DSP Filters.

Antipodes are currently offering to update older models to their new V4H spec'd motherboards (as per the new Core models), which can run Roon & DSP no problems. Issue is it's going to cost minimum $2k+ for the upgrade, and that's not even looking at updating from HDD to SSD.

A couple of Zenith streamers are on sale locally at the moment, and these come standard with internal Linear PSU's and SSD, therefore looking at if best to swap over to an Innuos, and sell my DS.
I stumbled across this almost by accident:

https://www.audiostream.com/content/inte...-roon-core

Again, a little off topic, but it does indicate an alternative approach to something like the Antipodes or Innuos products.  So not a nice neat one box solution, but it does allow you to use something like the SOtM sMS-200Ultra as a 'network end point', so decent sound quality, hifi kit isolated from the noisy computer kit, and so on.  Although as Petrik correctly points out, you might then start thinking about nice LPSU's for the SonicTransporter and sMS-200, a one box solution become four boxes.  Notwithstanding all this, this is still a reasonably straightforward approach that would offer a good combination of sound quality & functionality for the price.  (and then add a Mutec REF10 and MC3+USB........) Sad
(07-Nov-2017, 10:47)Confused Wrote: [ -> ]I stumbled across this almost by accident:

https://www.audiostream.com/content/inte...-roon-core

Again, a little off topic, but it does indicate an alternative approach to something like the Antipodes or Innuos products.  So not a nice neat one box solution, but it does allow you to use something like the SOtM sMS-200Ultra as a 'network end point', so decent sound quality, hifi kit isolated from the noisy computer kit, and so on.  Although as Petrik correctly points out, you might then start thinking about nice LPSU's for the SonicTransporter and sMS-200, a one box solution become four boxes.  Notwithstanding all this, this is still a reasonably straightforward approach that would offer a good combination of sound quality & functionality for the price.  (and then add a Mutec REF10 and MC3+USB........) Sad

WoW !!  Rolleyes

You got me thinking again ... surprising that the macbook pro stands out to be the worst of all (& thats what I'm using right now). Indeed - I agree that I want to go with Roon which should be more promising for the long haul (rather than another app like the one Innuos is using). 

What would be the 'best bang for the buck' logical & viable chain (keeping Roon in mind) if one was to start life with the sT ?
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